travel update

we are safe and sound...just not in London...or Kenya...or any planes at this point.

We are at Doubletree hotel in NYC. We caught a flight to JFK that arrived at 10:45 this evening. We then were able to arrange for a flight out of JFK tomorrow evening at 5:40 p.m. to London and then a connector to Nairobi a few hours later.

I could go into some crazy details about the day...the frustration...but here's the reality...God is at work...even en route. And lets be honest...if we are called and anointed by God to further his movement...then our adversary will certainly concentrate his resistance where ever he can.

God is using the team in ministry even as we head to Kenya. Pray for our new friend Jessica who lost her luggage. She is stranded until tomorrow evening as well and she seems really genuine.

We have meal vouchers and the hotel stay is courtesy of American Airlines. Pray for the team to not lose heart or grow weary of doing good. Hopefully my next post will be from Kenya.

FYI...we are looking at possibly extending our trip and returning on the 15th. More will come on this after tomorrow.

Wandering in the Wilderness...stinks...getting to the Promised Land in God's supernatural timing...doesn't stink.

dear plane

dear plane,
we are waiting for you to arrive to Cleveland so that we can get this show on the road. But you aren't here. And now you're tardiness is going to cause me to have to sprint in JFK airport to catch our connector flight to London. Thankfully Kenyans have a philosophy for this...Hakuna Matata.

Sincerely,
Ben

All my bags are packed...

We may not be going to save the world from a giant asteroid...but we are going to share the hope of Christ. Here's 10 ways you can pray

1. Pray for team unity. We will only go as far and as deep as God takes us together. Pray that we would mesh supernaturally and that even in heated moments, we would work things out.

2. Pray for safe travels. I think we are clear of the volcano and clear of any cancellations due to British Airways strike.

3. Pray that we would be in mission en route to Kenya and not just in Kenya. There may be some flight attendant or passenger who God places in our path. Help us be attentive to how best to walk across the room.

4. Pray for Billy to capture God's vision and think about how best to capture it on video and still shot so that he can give voice to those who for too long have been voiceless.

5. Pray for the soccer initiative. Pray specifically that Devan and Logan would do more than just bring joy to kids because of a game. Pray that they could point the way to God and the ways to break the cycle of poverty.

6. Pray for the AIDS abstinence and awareness programs that Alicia and Carrie will be leading. Pray that the message would be grounded in Christ's message of hope and his plan and design for sex.

7. Pray for Skip and the grief counseling he will facilitate with the grandmothers who are caring for AIDS orphans. Many of these women have 0 income, they have buried multiple generations of family and are not sure where there next meal will come from. Pray for wisdom for Skip as he leads them toward emotional, psychological and spiritual healing.

8. Pray for Ben, Kathy, and Carrie as they meet and work with the leadership of EWO in Kenya. Give them discernment of where to dream, how to focus, and who to empower.

9. Pray for Brooke, Donna, and Simon who will take important roles medically as we initiate a medical camp on Saturday.

10. Pray for Shaina, Ben, Alicia, and Skip, who all may have roles in preaching/singing/testifying to God's glory on Sunday mornings in multiple churches.

All Systems Go.

If you weren't already excited about the Kenya trip...this will take you over the top.



Final Countdown, Baby!

I am excited for this expression of church

Canton Peace Day 2010 from Derek Urey on Vimeo.

What comes to mind when you watch this video?

God of Volcanoes, Airlines and Blue Skies

Well, God provided supernaturally for our team to be able to go on this Kenya mission trip. The financial ridiculousness of random people giving random amounts to meet our needs has proven yet again that when we take risks that are God led, there will be provision that is God fed.

With that said...everything is paid for...flights paid for...room and board paid for...the only thing left to do is get on the plane this Monday and fly for 20 hours.

And God is reminding me that we are dependant on his provision in more ways than financial resources. Now we need Him to be the God of volcanos and prevent any further eruptions that might cause our trip to Nairobi (via London) to be delayed.

We need Him to be the God of British Airways...who just last week went on strike causing 30% of the daily flights out of London-Heathrow to be cancelled...because the strike is to go to June 9 which has the potential to impact our travel. (So far our flight is slated to go.

It wouldn't hurt to have blue skies, as Bill, one of our team members has chosen Kenya as his first ever time in a plane...(Go big or go home right?).

So, join me in praying for this trip...first for travelling mercy, then for God to use us mightily. I don't want to come back from this trip with any reservations. I want us to be fully obedient to God's promptings even if that involves risk or discomfort. You can read the current article and follow our status at www.empowerworldwideoutreach.com

Sacrificial Love

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5221140

This is one of the more moving stories I've heard in the sports world in a long time.

What have you given up for love?

You are the least of these.

Matthew 25 is becoming a life forming passage for me. It's the sheep and the goats. The sheep are the good guys...they clothe the naked, feed the hungry, give the thirsty a drink, visit the imprisoned, welcome the homeless, and care for the sick. We are supposed to be sheep.

But here's the thing...Even when we're sheep we can get it wrong. Sometimes I am a sheep so that people can see my sheepishness. I want people to acknowledge how I serve the poor, help those in need...or I help others out of a spirit of haughtiness. I want them to note my ability and means to help them.

But what you and I both need to remember is that we are the least of these that Jesus was speaking about. He's covered our nakedness with grace. He's given us the bread of life. He's supplied us with living water. He has set us free from bondage. He's healed our infirmities. He's welcomed us home.

I want it to be clear as we wrap up the Sheep Initiative that it is not what we've done for God and for others...It's what God has done in, through and for us and others. Because what you and I do and who we are is nothing, compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus as Lord.

I am just a beggar, trying to tell other beggars where to find food.

Woah Nellie!

Can't believe its time to return to Kenya! We will be heading out on Monday (Memorial Day) and will spend 2 weeks on the ground with our friends in Kenya. I am really looking forward to seeing Pastor Ben while over there! He is a good man who embodies gentleness and humility in some neat ways.

I am excited for the team we have going over there who will focus on AIDS prevention awareness, micro-enterprise solutions and just connecting relationally with some people who have experienced a great deal.

I am excited to get out of the routine. I love Mark Batterson's idea regarding a pretty important equation:

change of pace + change of place = change of perspective.

I don't know about you, but sometimes I get into tunnel mode/ survival mode, where its just about getting the next big event or task accomplished. I am hoping and praying that Kenya will revitalize and renew my heart. Will you pray along side me for that to happen.

Have no worries, I intend to blog while in Kenya...you can still get your fix of mediocre ideas, bad grammar, and a Mighty God.

Happy Birthday church

It's interesting to me how overlooked Pentecost is in our Church Year.

We've done well to get the word out about Jesus' birth and his death/resurrection, but if you ask me, sometimes I think we have a more binitarian view of God than Trinitarian, because we don't know what to do with the Holy Spirit.

God the Father we can comprehend...a Creator God.

God the Son we can identify with...because he took on flesh and was a man.

But God the Spirit...we're either apathetic or terrified. Some don't really see the need for Him, recognizing that Jesus is indeed the thesis of Christianity.

Others are afraid that if the Holy Spirit is allowed to much freedom or movement in their lives and in their churches, then control will be lost and those 'pesky charismatics' might break loose.

But the reality is that Church without Spirit is flashlight without battery.

We would do well to engage more in pneumatology (belief about the Spirit). Because belief in Jesus apart from the Holy Spirit is mere cognitive ascent and nothing more.

I've asked it before...but if the Holy Spirit vacated your church, would anything miss a beat? Are we Program Driven or Spirit Led?

RISE 2.0

Thursday night we had our second installment of RISE, a gathering of a generation from the Wadsworth area. It was a good night. Here's a couple thoughts that have stuck with me.

Jesus knew we would betray him and yet he picked up a towel.
He knew we would deny him and yet he picked up a towel.
He knew we would desert her and yet he picked up a towel.

I'm not even sure I am willing to be a person of the towel even with those I like, let alone those who I don't get along with.

We shouldn't put a period where God puts a comma.

"What good is it to make a sweet sound, but remain proud?"

Sheep Initiative Part 5

The fifth station featured in our sheep initiative is "When I was in prison you visited me".

Our ministry partner is Bishop Hopkins 3-C Initiative which focuses on establishing churches, classrooms and clinics in underresourced regions of Africa and Russia.

The Bishop has asked us to donate $400 ($100 per conference delegate.) We have a prison set up with prisoners in handcuffs. $1 will break the chains of a prisoner. Our goal is 400 chains broken. We have a little ways to go on this one. We are around $210 on a goal of $400!

It's not ok that kids are in educational bondage because of a lack of facilities.

It's not ok that people in areas of Russia have no access to a place to worship to the Lord, with adequate, trained leaders.

It's not ok that people in Africa are in medical bondage because they don't have access to any clinic facilities.

So we are going to do our part.

Our 4 week totals for those who are wondering:

716 cans out of a goal of 1000 cans.

4137 diapers out of a goal of 3000 diapers!!!!!!!

102 malaria nets out of a goal of 50!!!!!!!

210 chains set free out of a goal of 400

63 water jugs cleaned out of a goal of 80 for a well in Africa!

91 emergency response health kits out of 100!

2 weeks left to reach our goals. I am so excited by the response of WUMC!

hmm.

"of every dollar sent to the U.S. government, 41 cents goes to the armament of the military. Less than 1 cent goes to humanitarian relief around the world." (Adam Hamilton, Methodist Minister at Church of the Resurrection)


"Some trust in chariots...but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." (Psalm 20:7)

Is this true of God's church in the place that spends more money annually on chariots than the next 15 countries on the list

combined?

On Arrogance

Arrogant
This is a fear and a paradox of doing work that's important.

This from marketing expert Seth Godin who will be speaking at 2010 Catalyst in October.

"A fear because so many of us are raised to avoid appearing arrogant. Being called arrogant is a terrible slur, it means that you're not only a failure, but a poser as well.

It's a paradox, though, because the confidence and attitude that goes with bringing a new idea into the world ("hey, listen to this,") is a hair's breadth away, or at least sometimes it feels that way, from being arrogant.

And so we keep our head down. Better, they say, to be invisible and non-contributing than risk being arrogant.

That feels like a selfish, cowardly cop out to me. Better, I think, to make a difference and run the risk of failing sometimes, of being made fun of, and yes, appearing arrogant. It's far better than the alternative."

I struggle with this tension. I feel that in many settings, God has granted and gifted me with the ability to see, discern and paint the big picture. Sometimes this comes across as controlling, wreckless, naive, anarchish, (fill in your own blanks). But, there has to be a way to challenge the status quo of vision (or visionlessness) while possessing the heart of Jesus.

How do we balance innovative, new thinking, dreaming and idea-making with the humility Jesus expects? (Philippians 2:5-11). Similarly, how do we lead in such a way that the people follow Jesus rather than follow us?

For those wrestling and asking...

This is an interview about a book titled "The Myth of a Christian Nation." I have not yet read it, but watched it this morning and found it helpful in the discussion. Its about 22 minutes (in 3 sections).








Keep the conversation going.

Where Have All the Prophets Gone?

Today was a stretching, powerful, uplifting, altogether draining, joyous, frustrating day.

I had the chance to preach on the Church as the Holy Nation. I've shared before about my concerns regarding the relationship between cross and crown in this nation...and today we went to some really tough places. I loved it...and I hated it.

Some people were moved by God. Some people were moved to tears. Some people were moved to anger. Hopefully all people were moved to think.

Here's my take on this from a prophetic preaching standpoint. I would guess most pastors relinquish the role of prophet and substitute it for people pleaser. Because if the people leave or if the people aren't happy, then attendance drops and giving drops...But here's the thing, when we stop being prophetic, repentance stops and revival stops and even if the numbers are consistent or even growing, if it is a lukewarm people, it is a waste of time.

I will not simply cater to the preferences of people and if I could speak one message to the next generation of church leaders, I would plead with them to choose the Truth of God's Word over and above the likes and dislikes of the people, because our aim as God's mouthpiece is to allow the Truth of God's Word to become the thing that the people like, hunger and crave.

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." Romans 1:16

I request prayer coverage this week, as any time we dare to be prophetic an angry mob seems to form. Pray that I will humbly speak the truth and love and that any animosity that rises up would lead to conviction by the Holy Spirit.

Let the courting begin.

EMBED-We Are Lebron Video - Watch more free videos

not sure what strikes me the most...how tone deaf some people are or how pathetic our Cleveland celebrities are haha. Enjoy!

Thanks for the link goes out to my cousin Steve!

beautiful things

love it when songs have rich theology. saw this on Pete Wilson's blog.

What do you think? Is this the kind of song we should be singing in worship?

Beautiful Things from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

sheep initiative part 4

This Sunday's featured Sheep Initiative is Hunger. Jesus said "I was hungry and you gave me food" and that is exactly what we are seeking to do.

Our ministry partners are the Haven of Rest Ministries in Akron and Salvation Army in Wadsworth.

The goal is 1000 canned goods to be donated between the two sites. The measuring stick for this is simple...Mrs. Potato Head is in peril (suspended in mid air from the ceiling.) She is in serious need of rescue...which means her knight and shining armor, Mr. Potato Head is called to action. The only thing is that he needs a mountain built so that he can reach his damsel in distress. Every 25 canned good items that are brought in allow one industrial size aluminum can to be put in place to build the mountain. 40 of these cans will cause Mr. Potato Head to reach his bride.

We have just passed the halfway mark of the entire Sheep Initiative. And to date here are the numbers.

We've got about 2800 diapers on a goal of 3000!
We've got 98 malaria nets on a goal of 50!
We've got about 520 cans of food out of 1000
We've got 36 water jugs cleaned out of 80 (for a well to be dug in Liberia)!
We've got 70 kits assembled out of 100 for displaced people due to war and natural disaster!
We've got about 150 chains broken out of 400 for Bishop Hopkins' 3c's intiative.

We still have a ways to go on some of these, but Wadsworth UMC has rallied behind the cause of Jesus and I am so excited to see where these numbers end up!

If you want to contribute in any of these areas, drop off your donations or send them via mail to Wadsworth UMC c/o Sheep Initiative 195 Broad Street, Wadsworth, OH 44281.

God is doing immeasurably more than we could ask or imagine. LOVE IT!

Witness?

Alright, that is the second game in this series between the Cavs and Celtics that has been unbearable to watch. LeBron looks pedestrian. Mike Brown looks clueless and the Cavs are pathetic. I could guard Rondo as well as Mo Williams, who looks more like a bull fighter, giving successful oles to the left and the right.

Varejao pleads with the ref every time the whistle blows. Jamison, the guy we traded to get 18 and 10 every night gives us 6 and 4. Delonte West dribbles for 20 seconds and then heaves something at the rim.

The list goes on.

Its now win or go home. And even if the Cavs figure something out and pull off the next two...the Magic look invincible compared to Cleveland's incompetence.

The plus side is that the concern I had about missing the first title in Cleveland sports in my lifetime because of being in Kenya won't be an issue.

Preachin' It

Preaching this Sunday on Church as the Holy Nation.

Never had such a wide range of emotions entering a Sunday where I'm bringing the message.

On one hand, God is stirring passion and excitement that is becoming like fire in my bones. I have to preach this message. I absolutely cannot avoid it.

And yet I am burdened with the reality that this message may fall on deaf ears, or that opposition to the message will be fierce.

Pray for me this week. That I have a prophetic anointing and that those who have ears would hear.

"Some trust in chariots, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God" (Psalm 20:7)...What do we do as Christians when we live in a country who unashamedly, unabashedly trusts in their chariots? (We spend more money annually for our military than the next 15 countries combined.)

Game Face

Happy Sabbath! Happy Mother's Day! Happy Cavs crush the celtics day!

Sheep Initiative Part 3

Tomorrow we will be featuring our 3rd station of the Sheep Initiative, namely "Clothe". Jesus said, "When I was naked you gave me clothing" and that is exactly what we are seeking to do through our ministry partner Marian's Closet.

Marian's Closet is a Wadsworth clothing ministry for underresourced people. One of their greatest needs is diapers. So it only makes sense that we seek to meet this need for the Closet, but more importantly for these new mothers who are struggling mightily to make ends meet.

Some might say that giving out free diapers is "enabling" a spirit of poverty. But when these mothers can save that chunk of money each month and not have to spend it on diapers, suddenly they can make their rent, or get food on the table, or begin taking classes to get their ged or 2 year college degree...so a little gesture like diapers doesn't enable poverty, but it empowers the women to break the cycle.

The goal is simple...for every 100 diapers brought in, one diaper gets put on our clothesline. The goal is 30 diapers on the clothesline (3000 diapers total). If you want to help out with this. Order diapers online at places like diapers.com and have the order shipped to Wadsworth UMC 195 broad street in Wadsworth OH 44281.

The sizes that are needed are 3,4 and 5.

Really excited to feature this station on Mother's Day as a way to bless new mothers in our community

Mini Vans

The epitome of style. It's bringin' sexy back.



Happy Friday.

Yes!

Catalyst East is now in full swing. Their website is updated with the new 2010 theme and speakers. Shaina and I got our tickets last year for this year's conference. Cannot wait!

Check out the site!

I am praying that this will be a time of spiritual refreshment for Shaina and I that will be much needed come October!

SHEEP INITIATIVE PART 2

Sheep Initiative Part Deux: "For I was thirsty and you gave me a drink." The second of our six featured stations for Operation:Sheep Initiative is called THIRST. Our goal is a God-sized goal...80 jugs of contaminated water, transformed to clean water with donations of $25 for each jug. 80 jugs purchased and cleaned = $2000 to donate to a well built in Liberia, where 60% of the country does not have access to clean drinking water.

It's about water...It's about the Church being less a noun that people go to and more a verb that goes to others!

Like a Chicken With its Head Cut Off

"But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head...into Christ." Ephesians 4:15

Sometimes life is busy. Actually...it seems like lately...all the time life is busy.

I have a bit of an anxious spirit growing in me today. Between preaching on May 16 then preaching on May 20, then leading a retreat on the 21st, then trying to wrap up the sheep initiative on May 30 and then boarding a plane for two weeks in Kenya that will both delight me in crush me...I feel like sometimes life is unrelenting.

But here's an image I'm stuck on...sometimes the busyness we feel or experience is unnecessary. Sometimes we are like a Church running with its Head Cut off. I mean that. Sometimes the things we do, commit to, live for and choose are not oriented around Christ as our head like the Bible says.

So if Jesus was removed from your church, would your programming/ministry/way of life in church miss a beat?

How about the Holy Spirit?

Three ways we run with our heads cut off:

We are prayerless.
As pastor Jim preached on Sunday, "where prayer stops, the movement stops" Why is it that our corporate prayer times are populated by a few faithful saints, but our fun/fellowship events explode with people?

We are careless.
We don't love one another with true biblical love. We question each others' motives. We are negative when people bring new ideas or ministries to the table. We become a body divided against itself. Church massochism is far to rampant!

We are Heirless.
We don't invest in future leaders and ministry is dependant on the ones who've always done it doing it the way they've always done it. The sign of a good leader is one who gets the breath of God and doesn't try to pull off the breath of God by his or herself but instead breathes the breath of God into others to make it a reality.

So...is your church running with its head cut off?

That's Mo Like it

I love the energy that surrounds the Cavs right now. After our Kenya team building retreat, Shaina and I got to catch the second half of the Cavs-Celtics game and it was a lot of fun. Mo Williams is a guy that sort've has a bad reputation when it comes to playoff basketball because he didn't produce in the clutch last year. But his effort in the third quarter was sensational and the dunk he had over Paul Pierce nearly got me out of my seat.

They said on the broadcast that it was his first career dunk as a Cav...and it was monstrous...and it was a Paul Pierce facial. Loved it! I am excited that it looks like my Monday night may be clear tomorrow to catch game two...Have a feeling the technicals will start flying tomorrow!


So Cavs or Celtics and how many games? I have Cleveland in 7.